Hey guys, Heres the second chapter! I know it's not much Naley, but starting next chapter there will be, I promise! Please R/R :)Thanks to everybody who replied to the first chapter, your reviews mean a lot! x0

Chapter 2

Meet Your New Roomate

To sum up a summer in Italy with your best girl-friend in one word was nearly impossible. The only thing Haley could come up with was amazing. The simple word didn't do it justice though. The week after graduation Haley and Peyton said their good byes to Tree Hill and boarded a plane to Italy. After spending two months having the time of their life, they landed in California a week before school started, eager to start their college careers. Haley waved one last time to Peyton, watching as she disappeared through the doors of her dorm building, her suitcases rolling in behind her. As she sat back in the cab Haley handed the driver a small piece of paper with the address she had scribbled down earlier that day. He nodded, and within 15 minutes they pulled up to a large apartment complex.

"Thank you so much" Haley smiled gratefully at the middle aged man and handed him a $20.

The cab driver placed the last of her 3 suitcases down on the carpeted floor next to the door. He smiled back at her, accepting her generous tip. "Good luck with everything here" He waved goodbye and walked back down the hallway and into the elevator.

Haley took a deep breath as she stared at the white door in front of her. The gold 2303 reflected the hallway light, making it glimmer. Her small fist connected with the door once, twice and finally she could hear footsteps coming closer. A moment later Lucas appeared in the doorway dressed in loose fitting jeans and a long sleeved blue shirt. A smile stretched across his perfect lips and his blue eyes seemed brighter than ever.

Before she could stop herself Haley barreled towards him, wrapping her arms tight around his neck as he picked her up off the floor, spinning her around. Their laughter filled the quiet apartment and after a moment he became still, letting her slide back to the ground.

"God, I missed you" She breathed, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"I can tell" He teased before pulling her back into a tight embrace, happy to have his best friend back in his arms. As he pulled back, his eyes roamed over her body taking in every inch. Her black pumps elongated her tight jean clad legs; her black halter had risen up exposing a portion of her tanned flat stomach. Her highlighted auburn hair fell in soft waves down her back and her brown eyes glinted in shades of amber. Italy had definitely done her good.

"Haley you look amazing"

Her cheeks tinted with a crimson blush and she smiled lightly. "Still the relentless charmer I see"

Lucas chuckled. "Of course"

She linked her arm within his and stepped further into the apartment. As she surveyed the room, her mouth dropped open in awe. The glossy hardwood floors extended throughout the large living room, and there were sliding glass doors that led to a small balcony, providing a gorgeous view of the ocean.

"This is unbelievable" She wasn't expecting anything like this, not at all. This was so glamorous, so perfect. Ever responsible Haley James got so caught up in her European escapade that she had put off securing a dorm room until the last minute. When she finally took the time to get all the information, there were no rooms available. She could afford a low budget apartment but being half way around the world she couldn't exactly go apartment shopping. Haley called Lucas in the midst of a panic attack and he had mentioned that he knew of an apartment she could stay in. He said a friend of his was looking for a roommate and he thought she would really love the apartment. Haley jumped at the opportunity, without even asking for details. It was either that or she would be living in a cardboard box for her fist semester.

"And it's only the living room" Lucas winked, guiding her through the rest of the apartment. From the living room a hallway led into a spacious kitchen, the white washed cabinets contrasting all the stainless steel appliances. The first door further into the hallway was a small standard bathroom. The next door lead into a large bedroom and opposite that door sat another bedroom.

"Lucas did I ever mention how much I love you?" She squealed. "This is the most amazing apartment I have ever seen, there is no way I'm giving it up"

"I knew you would like it"

"So tell me about my roommate, how did you guys meet?"

"I've known him for awhile" Lucas answered uneasily.

"Well you guys definitely have basketball in common, the only time I've ever seen this much basketball stuff was when I was in your room" Haley laughed, looking around the living room once again. There were various basketball posters hanging on the far wall opposite the television, and several boxes that were still yet to be unpacked had 'Basketball' scribbled across the top in black marker.

"Yeah, I guess you can say he's into basketball. He's on the team here"

"So did he just move here from another apartment or something? Or is he a freshman?" Haley asked, curious to know more about her roommate. The thought of living alone with a guy she had never met before unsettled Haley, but then again she wasn't in any position to complain. Besides maybe he would be hot.

"He's a freshman"

She nodded, happy to have someone her own age that she could make the transition into college with. As she glanced around the room once more, taking everything in, something caught her eye. Haley stepped towards the pile of boxes and pulled out a picture that was partially sticking out. It was a photo of Karen, Andy and Lucas on Lucas' graduation day.

"Why does he have a picture of you guys?" Haley asked confused as she held up the picture so he could see.

Lucas remained silent before letting out a long sigh.

Well here goes nothing

"Haley listen - -"

"Lucas, whose stuff is in front of the door?"

The voice echoed throughout the apartment and Haley's breath caught in her throat at the sound of it.

"Nathan" She breathed her voice soft and low.

Nathans' head shot up at the familiar voice. "Hales?" Her nickname slipped off his tongue before he could stop himself and his mouth slightly opened at the sight of her. She looked so different. The girl standing in front of him looked as if she had just stepped off a fashion runway, while the girl he remembered from high school would have never been seen wearing a shirt like the one she currently sported.

Lucas looked between his brother and best friend, anxious to see what would happen next. When the room filled with an awkward silence he shifted his weight uncomfortably from one foot to the other.

"So, uh, surprise?" He offered with a slight laugh, hoping to ease some of the tension away.

Haley's eyes stayed connected on Nathan. He looked different, better than last time she saw him. He had bulked up more over the summer which was evident by how his black polo clung tightly to his abs and biceps. His jeans hung loosely on his hips and his black hair was shorter. The only thing that remained exactly the same, were his eyes. His blue eyes still sparkled. And they still made her heart skip a beat. At that moment Haley tore her eyes away from him, unable to handle his suffocating stare.

"I can't believe you" She bit, turning her fiery brown eyes onto Lucas. She swallowed hard trying to keep her emotions at bay. Whenever she was around him it was like getting caught in a rip tide. So many emotions flooded her at once and she could barley control them.

Nathan shook his head, finally coming out of his daze. His eyes widening at the realization that Haley was indented to be his new roommate. He cleared his throat and attempted to speak, but Lucas spoke before he had the chance.

"Haley don't be mad, I was just trying to help" He could see the anger in her eyes and suddenly it didn't feel like the best idea anymore.

"This is your way of helping?!" She dropped the picture that she was still holding back into the box and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Yeah it is. Look you need a place to live and you..." Lucas turned to look at his brother. "..Need somebody to pay half the rent. It's a solution to everybody's problem"

"The only thing us living together would do, is make more problems" Haley sighed.

"I don't think it's a good idea" Nathan finally spoke up.

"Fine then what are you going to do? Mom and Dad aren't going to give you any more money and you can't afford the rent on your own. Either you get a roommate or you're going to have to find another place to live. And do you really think you're going to be able to find a roommate on such short notice?" Lucas threw the questions out, trying to get Nathan to understand that this was his only option.

"Whatever. I need to take a shower" He turned his attention to Haley, ignoring the urge to walk closer to her. "If you want to stay here, then it's fine. If you don't then I'll figure something out. I don't care either way" With that, he walked past the both of them and down the hallway disappearing into the bathroom. He couldn't stand being in the room anymore, the tension felt as if it was suffocating him.

"Haley everything about this apartment is perfect. First of all its huge, you can afford your part of the rent, it's close to school, there's a million places within walking distance that you could get a job at, and the simple fact that there's a week left until first semester starts and there's no way you're going to find anything else"

"You're right it is perfect, except for the fact that Nathan would be my roommate. I mean really Lucas what the fck were you thinking?!" Haley yelled not caring if Nathan heard her not. She was beyond pissed at this point. She trusted Lucas completely with finding her an apartment while she was in Italy, and this is what he does.

Unbelievable

"I was thinking that I would help my best friend and brother out at the same time! Jesus Haley" Lucas shouted back, annoyed that he was getting yelled out when he was only trying to help. He knew it wouldn't be easy getting Haley to agree to this, but she wasn't even giving it a chance.

"You didn't help me! You completely screwed me over! Why didn't you tell me that Nathan was living here? Because you knew I would never agree to it! Now what am I suppose to do?" She threw her hands up frustrated.

Cardboard box, here I come

"You guys used to be best friends Haley, is it that big of a deal if you share a living space for a few months?"

"Used to be" Haley repeated. "Did you miss the part where we haven't talked in over two years?! Lucas you know how hard it was for me seeing him every day and knowing he chose high school popularity over me. You know how much time I spent crying over the fact that we weren't friends anymore. This was my chance to finally let go, to move on from everything that had to do with him. Damn it Lucas did you think about my feelings at all?!" Haley wiped angrily at the tears that were trickling down her soft cheeks. She hated that he could still do this to her, that he could still get to her. She was supposed to be over him. They hadn't spoken the entire summer not to mention that last two years, and now here she was crying because he had been in the same room as her.

The guilt began settling into his stomach and he mentally slapped himself. How he ever thought this would be a good idea was beyond him in that moment. All he could focus on was how his best friend was falling apart because of something that was entirely his fault. His intentions were good of course, yet that didn't change anything.

"I'm sorry" Lucas apologized sincerely, stepping closer to her and taking her hands within his. "I really was just trying to help. I thought that if you guys could spend some time together, without all the high school drama, maybe it would help and things could get better for the two of you. Not to mention that it seemed to solve everybody's living problems"

"I really do love the apartment" Haley chuckled through her tears.

"Then stay Hales. It won't be that bad I promise. Look with Nathans basketball practice and all the parties he'll be going to and all the extra classes you're going to be taking, and I already know you'll have a job by the end of the week; you guys will barely see each other. Plus I'll be close by so if you ever need me, I'll be right here" Lucas smiled slightly. "Just give it a chance"

Haley's eyes connected with Lucas' and she knew he was right. She was taking more classes then most freshmen, and she planned to get a job if not two so she could pay for everything she would need. Plus she knew how hard practice had been for Lucas freshman year; no doubt it would be just as hard for Nathan. Maybe it could work. She took a deep breath and nodded. "I'll try it out"

Could she really live with the boy she used to be best friends with? The boy she was hopelessly in love with since forever? The boy that walked away and left her behind?

So what did you guys think? Good or Bad? Please review! x0